Sabah to play active roles in promoting VMY2020

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew (Right) said that the ministry, via Sabah Tourism Board, has mapped out several marketing strategies. NSTP/KHAIRULL AZRY BIDIN.
By Olivia Miwil - November 18, 2019 @ 2:42pm

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will be playing active roles in supporting the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY2020) campaign next year.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said that the ministry, via Sabah Tourism Board, has mapped out several marketing strategies.

"In conjunction with VMY2020, Tourism Malaysia and Sabah Tourism Board have come out with the Best of Sabah Packages 2019 that would promote 100 tourism packages in Sabah.

"Those packages would be distributed in e-brochures and printed materials to all Tourism Malaysia in and out of the country," she said during the 15th State Assembly Sitting, here.

Liew, who is also deputy Chief Minister, was replying to a question by Datuk Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan-Upko) on the ministry's plans to benefit from the VMY2020 campaign.

Besides that, the Ministry would also include main events in Sabah such as the Borneo Marathon, Sabah Fest and Kaamatan festival to be listed in the VMY2020 calendar.

The Ministry will also use the logo of the campaign in all marketing activities; take part in travel shows; become the host for the 2020 PATA Adventure Travel Conference and Mart; collaborate with international tourism agents and airline companies; improve digital marketing through websites and micro sites, as well as social media using various languages; and it will organise familiarisation trips for members of the media, filming crew and agents.

Meanwhile, Liew said that the Ministry would be discussing with a Turkish firm on bringing in tourists to Sabah next year.

"A company from Istanbul had signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia Airlines (valid) from October until December (bringing in Turkey tourists) via chartered flights to Kuala Lumpur.

"After the agreement expires this December, we will work with the firm. We would not know whether (the upcoming flights) will stop in Kuala Lumpur only or to include Sabah. But they are coming to Sabah," she said, replying to supplementary questions by Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (Kiulu-Parti Bersatu Sabah).

Joniston had asked for updates on the Ministry's announcement on bringing in 1 million tourists to Sabah.

He also inquired whether the Ministry's participation in the World Travel Market in London had brought European tourists into Sabah.

Liew said that the Ministry had signed agreements with Royal Brunei Airlines to fly in visitors from Europe to Brunei. The route will also connect to Tawau and Sandakan.

Besides that, Liew said that the Ministry is also expected to sign an agreement with a medical tourism company based in London.